Why pick an order at all
In a water event, more pallets sit in the path than there are people and forklifts to move them. Without a plan, the effort goes to whatever is closest or most visible, which isn't always what's most vulnerable or valuable. A priority table adds a minute of thought before the lifting starts, and gives the team a shared logic it can explain afterward.
The table below is an example with four factors: how badly water hurts the goods, how valuable or urgent they are, how close the water is, and how easily and safely they can be moved. Change the factors, add your own, and score them in a way that fits your inventory.
Plan where the pallets land just as carefully. A staging area that's too small, dark or blocked by cartons slows everything and adds hazards. Mark the routes with cones or tape, put someone in charge of traffic if several machines are running, and keep staging away from doors that may get propped open. If dry space is short, decide in advance which goods leave the building for temporary storage, and how you'll track them while they're gone.
Scoring factors
| Factor | Low | Medium | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vulnerability to water | Sealed, non-absorbent | Cartons on pallets | Paper, textiles, electronics |
| Value or urgency | Easily replaced | Moderate | Costly, or tied to urgent orders |
| Distance from the water | Upper level, far from the water | Near the wet zone | Floor level, in the water's path |
| Ease and safety of moving | Hard or unsafe to move | Needs equipment | Easy to lift safely |
Using the table
Mark the zone
Decide which aisles and bays are wet or at risk.
Walk and score
Give each pallet or group a score on every factor.
Sort
The highest total moves first, unless safety says otherwise.
Set up staging
Pick a dry staging area with enough room and clear routes.
Record
Note what moved, when, and where it went.
Terms
- Staging area
- A dry zone set aside to receive the relocated goods.
- Vulnerability
- How easily water spoils a product or its packaging.
- Urgency
- How much near-term orders or operations depend on the goods.
Before the first lift
Common questions
Does the table replace judgment?
No. It gives judgment a structure, and makes it easier to explain later.
What if we're short on people?
Move the highest-scoring pallets that can be moved safely, and record what stayed behind.
General information for Commerce City, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.